Kate Appleby
Trigger Warning: This story discusses experiences of mental health struggles, mention of suicide, sexual abuse and chronic illness. “I believed I was a burden to those around me, and that by removing myself from the equation, I was being considerate. I wasn’t thinking about the impact it would have on others; I just wanted the […]
Steve Hill
“When you stop using the word can’t and start using the word can, you’ll soon realise that the person you thought you were is no match for the one that you really are.” I’m Steve, Oldham born and bred, I have been teaching children for 28 years and I still believe it is the greatest […]
Pete Barty
We are human beings, not human doings” My name is Pete Barty, or Peter if I am in trouble, originally from Kent. I am a husband, father, civil engineer, fundraiser, explorer and, now, a therapist. As a young man, I wouldn’t have described myself as academic, I barely scraped my A-Levels but was able to […]
Amy Madden
Trigger Warning: Suicide ‘I just want to go into schools, speak to young people and speak to them about Aleysha and keep her memory alive.’ I’m Amy and I am the founder of All Ears which supports the community in and around Wigan. I’m 25 and I’m someone who is passionate about supporting the community […]
Ije McDougall
“Unashamedly Occupy Space” My name is Ije McDougall, I am a mum, a sister, a friend, a human resources professional, a family court magistrate, a motivational speaker and charity worker. Most importantly however, I unashamedly occupy space as a black woman living in the UK. I grew up in Nigeria as the eldest of three […]
Sandeep Saib
Trigger Warning: Suicide ‘to move forward you have to go backwards’ I am Sandeep Saib and I am a living experience mental health advocate. I really emphasise the ‘living’ in that title because I am still going through my own mental health journey. I am a philanthropist, public speaker and professional marketeer too and I […]
Matthew Smith
Trigger Warning: Suicide ‘There is life after suicide’ My name is Matthew Smith and I am from Durham. I am 28 now, and have lived in the same village all my life. It’s the kind of village where everybody knows each other. I look back at my childhood with fond memories, I was the middle […]
Kerry Boland
Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse & Rape “What was once a void is now a value” I’m Kerry Boland. I am from Stockport in Manchester. I work with female entrepreneurs on their sales strategies and I’m a mother of three. I grew up in Reddish as the eldest of 4 children. My dad always drilled into […]
Hayley Xenophontos
Trigger warning: Sexual Abuse “A hairdresser is a position of trust” My name is Hayley and I live in the Stockport area. I run a hair and wellbeing centre, where I specialise in hair loss solutions for women. I’m also an advocate for mental health. I do workshops including mindfulness, confidence and meditation. I was […]
Andy Craddock
“Disability has not stopped me from being the person that I am”. My name is Andy Craddock. I went through life as an able-bodied person until I acquired a disability in adulthood. I’m from Birmingham. I come from a working-class family, and my father was in the military. Both my parents passed away a couple […]